Wednesday, March 21, 2012

My friend Jamie over at The Letter 4, along with her sisters and another very talented soul have launchedThe Letter 4 + 1

{hello. to everyone visiting today, happy to have you here!}

This week they are sharing 10 inspiring stories along with 10 mantras{made into free printables}, and I get to share some of my heartand us as one of the stories. I am so honored to be part of this amazing initiative, and of course appreciative to get the word out about childhood cancer.

So head on over to The Letter 4 to hear a little more about usand see the awesome mantra printable Jamie created!! While you're there, check outthe shop and enter the giveaways in honor of the launch this week.

still nebulizer treatments, and E came home with a red, runny nose {sigh}

but we are taking one day at a time!

Today I got to show off my should-have-been-a-lawyer skills,

with a hospital ER director. To sum the whole sad thing up, I had taken

Liam to an ER further from us as it is associated with one of the Children's Hospitals in the city and our pediatrician is on staff there, but was pretty much given the whole

overprotective mom who doesn't know much spiel. I knew my child did not have croup, but he wanted to sell it to me that day, meanwhile the nurse kept hacking all over the both of us.

I drove from there to the ped who was open by then, and took the time to make a diagnosis, understand what the RSV diagnosis meant for our home with 4 two-year-olds who had been born seven weeks early, etc. So yes, back to it, the director finally called today and miraculously the boys were quiet. I let him know after a good back and forth that ultimately a non-productive visit to the ER costing me hundreds of dollars helps me in no way, absolutely none and being walked out on by a doctor who didn't want to listen, inexcusable.

I think I wore him down because someone from billing will be calling us tomorrow {yes!}

More importantly, the doctor will be talked to, and hopefully moms, dads, and caregivers will be listened to better, that's really what matters.

On top of that, whoa, yes big day, I took the boys to Target alone. No stroller.

It was crazy windy today, but I brought them in in 2 carts and transferred to a cart with the kid seats in front, so two there and two in the actual cart. Don't judge it's the only way feasible {grin}. They were really good, and I know not to expect it in the future,

but yes we did it! So proud of them!! The key was only going in for a short list and

making it completely arbitrary, we didn't have to go in if the meltdowns were already happening in the car.

Wow, oversharing tonight, so that's what you get!

I am starting Body Revolution {Jillian Michaels} and tomorrow will be Day 3.

I hesitated to write it because I don't know what will happen in these next 90 days,

but right now I am waking up and working out and while I am completely exhausted right now and apologizing now for this not so colorful blogpost {first week is twice daily workouts} and hungry {adjusted mealplan first week too},

I am proud of myself. I haven't been taking good care of myself lately and

I need to, so cheers to sticking with it!! It's amazing the time there is when you give up Facebook for Lent!

Finally, if I haven't filled my blog-post-word-quota. I have to leave you with

some really sweet moments of this week so far...

Rollerskating with Ethan at a rink for the first time

{the last time I did that I believe Reagan was President!}

Griffin not wanting to take off an Easter dress shirt I tried on because it was his

doctors coat, he napped with it over his shirt.

{dedication to the profession already!}

Ethan doing little jumps on his scooter on the way home,

today's weather made him happy!

Aiden always grabbing my face in his little hands and always

sneaking extra cuddle time.

Beckham cracking himself up, cracking me up, and shadowing his

big brother to no end.

Liam, oh Liam, he has started this little "aaayaaa!" This happy little grin

and expression. It started the day his fever broke and it's still there.

I love it.

Leaving Target today, they all said, "Did you have fun shopping Mama?" "I had fun."

I seriously felt I could see our future, being able to get out on my own more and more,although I have done a lot, each little thing such as no strollers is a big deal,